To say that Jeff and Tony Dreyfus, the father and son team behind Metropolis Coffee Company, love coffee is like saying Shane MacGowan enjoys an occasional beer. Browse around their wonderful Web site  and you’ll come away convinced these are men obsessed. For instance, their philosophy: “We believe the essence of coffee comes from tension; tension between the hardness of the bean and the heat of the roaster, between the pressure of water in the machine and the dense pack of the fine grind. Reward is finer when earned, and coffee is sweeter when challenged. This is the core of our coffee philosophy.”

If you think that sounds a little grandiose, read on: “A coffee house should be a neighborhood center. It should be equally, a place to relax and a place to plan a revolution.” This too might seem over-the-top – until you visit Metropolis and try the coffee. What you’ll quickly realize is that the Dreyfuses have lived up to their philosophy and then some.

Beans roasted here

The coffee shop is large and bright: pale yellow walls and green concrete floors with a small outdoor café and a street-friendly façade that’s nearly all glass. The crowd is equal parts students from Loyola, which has residences just blocks away, and neighborhood regulars from all walks of life. Metropolis buys organic fair-trade coffee and roasts its own beans on the premises. Part of the charm of this homey space is the roasting equipment in the back of the shop. The Dreyfuses' expertise in and love for coffee shows in the rich, aromatic brews they sell.

A neighborhood staple

Their love of the neighborhood and – at the risk of sounding grandiose ourselves – of life shows in every aspect of the coffee shop, from the friendly staff to the colorful Web site, which features photos and blurbs about regulars, advice for making coffee, staff shots and bios, an events calendar and more. A schedule near the coffee shop door promotes upcoming Metropolis events, which include live music, films, art openings, a writing group, a sewing group, a parenting workshop…you get the idea. “Things have really improved here, especially since (Metropolis) opened,” says Bek Allen, of the Edgewater Arts Group. “It’s brought a real sense of community. They’ve really opened their doors to arts, music, neighborhood groups. This place is the staple of what this neighborhood wants to be.”